Printing form aligning apparatus



May 17, 1949. A. J. HOERTH PRINTING FORM ALIGNING APPARATUS 2 Shets-Sheet 1- Filed July 26, 1946 M M o Q o 6 o mw wwwol l iom nU D m a M 2 i /wm liiolmmfio o o o o y 1949- A. J. HOERTH 2,470,437

PRINTING FORM ALIGNING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 1 946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in printing apparatus, and more particularly to a device for aligning unmounted electrotypes or the like on a so-called honeycomb base.

In the printing trade there is a decided preference for the honeycomb base, i. e., a rigid metallic plate of substantial thickness having a plurality of closely spaced, cylindrical apertures therethrough in the direction of its thickness. For convenience in manufacture, the base is composed of a plurality of sections assembled in edgewise relationship, and the sections securely held by being locked up in a chase. The base is less than type-high, and upon its upper face may be detachably secured plate electrotypes or similar printing plates, the total thickness of the plates and base being type-high. When made up, the form, including the chase, base, and plates, is placed upon the bed of the press. For make-up, line-up, make-ready, and register, the means serving to secure the plates adjustably to the base comprise manually operable hooks having an expansible portion to engage an aperture and a hook portion to engage the edge of the plate, the hook portion being adjustable laterally within certain limits, and the relative spacing and positioning of the apertures in the base permitting disposition of the several hooks in a plurality of positions to accommodate the size and required position of the printing plate or plates. Briefly, the foregoing describes a well-known type of plate-holding unit known commonly in the trade as a honeycomb base, and further amplification thereof is deemed unnecessary.

In the use of plates in multiple, for example in book work, it is important to provide means for positioning and aligning the several plates accurately not only with respect to the chase, but with respect to other plates; and to obtain proper register, particularly in color-printing, precise alignment of the plates of the form is indispensable. For attaining such alignment many devices have been proposed, all of which suffer from the defect of relying upon means attached to or engageable with the chase. Not only do these require special types of chases costing substantially more than simple chases, but the installation thereof on the upper face of a, chase occupying substantially all of the area of the bed of the press limits their use, due to interference with the grippers of the cylinder of the press.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is the provision of means for aligning a printing plate upon a base of the type aforesaid, which means depends solely upon the base for its own positioning, and which is capable of being set up at any position on the base and within the confines of the chase.

Another object is to provide aligning means for the purpose stated which comprises a set of members detachably securable to the base and including means engageable with the apertures therein, which means may be utilized for positioning the members in any desired lateral position, there being a wire engageable with the members to provide an aligning element for the printing plates.

A further object is to provide members associable with the base as aforesaid and including elongated slots engageable with pins snugly fitted in selected apertures in the base whereby the members may be moved laterally in at least one direction to obtain adjustments finer than those afforded by the spacing of the apertures in the base.

Still another object is to provide a, plate aligning device which is capable of use as aforesaid, and additionally may be employed with those older types of chases having holes therein for aligning pins in lining up and positioning printing cuts of the commoner types, thereby lending increased usefulness to the device.

With these and other objects to appear in view, the invention is illustrated in one preferred embodiment in the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a chase and locked-up base therein, and with the device of the invention in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the members comprising the device;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view in detail of one of the wire-holding pins;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a form of permanent magnet usable in connection with the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the aligning wire.

Referring now to Fig. l, a conventional printers chase I0 is shown with a honeycomb base ll locked up therein, the locking-up means comprising quoins or any equivalent means (not shown). Base II is of a well-known type consisting of a metal block or blocks slightly under type-high and having a plurality of closely spaced cylindrical or frusto-conical apertures I2 therein, the configuration and disposition of the apertures not being particularly pertinent to the present invention except in so far as they provide spaces for reception of certain parts of the device.

In use a printing plate I3 or plates are placed on the base I I in substantially the intended posi tion and the locking keys or hooks I4 inserted in selected apertures |2, as is known in the art. Then, by means of a suitable tool, the hooks I4 are slightly tightened to hold the plate I3 against accidental dislodgment. As so far described, the plate I3 is only in approximately the desired position. To locate a single plate or to align a plurality of plates precisely where required, the device of the invention is utilized and will now be described.

There is provided a pair of plate-likemembers 2| of elongated rectangular form, each having an elongated slot 22 extending adjacent one edge and substantially the full length thereof. Engageable in each slot 22 is a pair of pilots 23 generally cylindrical in form and comprising an aperture-engaging shoulder 24 fittingsnugly'but removably in a selected aperture I2, a flange 25, and a threaded stud 26. Flange 25 limits the extent of insertion of the pilot 23' in the aperture I2, and stud 26 receives a knurled thumb nut 2| by means of whichthe plates 2| may be securedw-ith respect'to the pilots"23.- By the means just described, a plate 2| may be situated in any" desired position with respect to the base adjusted'longitudinally to the extent permitted by the aperture 22 and there secured by the nuts 21. Assuming that pilots 23 are engaged in a'pair of apertures I2 parallelly aligned with oneedge of the chase I0, movement of the plate 2|ii'pon'the studs26 will impart movementof the pl'ate'parall'el to' that sa'meedge 'of the chase. It will be understood, however, that preliminary positioning of the plates 2| is not limited to that" shownin Fig. '1, but that-they may be angularly related otherwise to the edges of the chase, as forexample" when the printing plate or platesxbeing'aligned'are correspondingly angu- ,larly situate:

In order that'the plates 2| will'be supported in aplane' parallelto the upper-surface of the base, one edge 3| thereof is preferablyfian'ged downwardly in anfamount equal to the flange "25 (Figsi 2' and 3) lines 20, preferably engraved into the surface 'thereoff-whi'ch lines coincide with the axes of the posts 32. Adapted to fit over any of the psts32 is a clamp 36, there-being oneassociated with'each-plate 2|. Clamp 36 is provided-with a downwardly extending flange 30 slottedas at 31 toreceive the wire referred to.

To providea suitable line foraligning or positioning the-edge of the printing plate or plates I3, there is provideda length of steel music wire 4| rendered convenient for use by embedding the ends' i'ri solder 42 carried'in buttons 43 and 44,

' the latter 'afiording easy grip by the fingers.

For purposes of this description, it will be assumed=that the printing plate I3 or a plurality thereof are to occupy a position or positions'on the'base l |v indi'catediin Fig; '1. Althoughwonly one plate I3 is illustrated, it will be understood that a plurality thereof may be aligned, as in book printing. Moreover, assuming that that edge of the plate or plates I3, indicated by the reference number 5|, is to lie in the direction shown, say 4 inches from the lower edge of the chase III, the plates 2| will be placed in approximate position on the base I, the pilots 23 thereof being engaged-in convenient apertures I2. Then a convenient corresponding'pair'of posts 32 are selected and the wire 4| inserted in the slots 35 thereof, the button 43 abutting one side of one post 32 as shown. Clamps 36 are then placed over the posts 32, the slots 37 thereof receiving the wire. 4|, and the flange 30 of each clamp preventing mispositioning of the wire 4| as nuts 34 are'tightened.- Thumb nuts 34 are then put in place and tightened, whereby clamps 36 secure the wire 4| with the proper degree of tension, the button 44 being utilized to stretch the wire manually prior to tightening the nuts3'4'.

In order to fix the lateral position-of the wire 4| with'respect to .the edge of the chase, any convenient abutment'for the end of ascale 52 may be used. One form of such abutmenttll is shown-in Fig. 6 and comprises apair of per:- manent magnets '53, for example of Alnico, an alloyof aluminum, nickeL- and cobalt, these-beingsecured by screws 54 passing throughthe non-magnetic holder or casing55, which may be of brass- Abutment 5|] is placed on the steel chase-I0 in a convenient position and located with its inner 'face flush with the inner edge'of the chase. Scale 52 may thenbe laid flat on the'base I I and against abutmenttlll.

Now, by means of thumb nuts 21', the plates 2| may be shifted longitudinally with respect to the sca1e 52 until wire4-I coincides with the 4-inch graduationthereof. Abutment 5|), together with "scale 52, will-be shiftedlongitudinally of the wire 4| in order that both ends'of the wire may be aligned.- Nuts 2'! are then tightened. An accurate reference'line has now been-established, and the printing-plateorv plates I3 may be shifted, as necessary; to align the edge 5| thereof with the wire 4| and hooks I4 finally tightened.

It will be comprehended that two sets of the parts constituting'theinvention, except perhaps the abutment 50 and scale 52', may be used. One set will be employed. as described, and the other set may be arranged with its aligning wire perpendicular'to the one shown. Thus a plurality of book plates, for example, may be aligned in two. perpendiculardirections, the scale 52 and abutment5l! being shifted as desired.

The invention is not intended to be limited to a base I| havin cylindrical apertures as shown and described, since it is contemplated that by suitable modification of the pilots 23 the plates 2| may be secured to a so-called diagonal block type of base, also well known in the art, the essence of' the invention residing in aligning means attachable to the form independently of the chase.

WhileI have: shown a particular embodiment of my invention,it will be understood, of course, that I do not: wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for aligning printing plates adapted to be detachably mounted on a base having a plurality of apertures for receiving the mounting means comprising in combination a pair of members, means for detachably securing said members in spaced-apart position on the base, each said member having an elongated slot, said securing means including elements slidable in said slot and engageable with selected ones of the apertures, each member having means for securing the same to said elements, an upstanding post secured to each member and having a slot for receiving one end of a wire, and an aligning wire adapted to extend from the post of one member to the post of the other, whereby a predetermined edge of a printing plate may be placed into register with the wire prior to mounting thereof.

2. A device for aligning printing plates adapted to be detachably mounted on a base having a, plurality of apertures for receiving the mounting means comprising in combination a plurality of pairs of plug elements each snugly engageable in an aperture of the base, a member associated with each said pair of elements, each said member and the elements individual thereto having mutually engaging means to permit the member to be adjusted laterally with respect to the base and secured in adjusted position, a post secured in each said member, an aligning wire, each said post including means for securing the ends of the wire in tensioned condition, whereby the wire serves as a reference line for locating an edge of a printing plate.

3. A device for aligning printing plates adapted to be detachably mounted on a base having a plurality of apertures for receiving the mounting means comprising in combination a plurality of pairs of plug elements each snugly engageable in an aperture of the base, a member associated with each said pair of elements, each said member and the elements individual thereto having mutually engaging means to permit the member to be adjusted laterally with respect to the base and secured in adjusted position, a post secured in each said member, each said post having a threaded portion and a thumb nut engageable therewith, an aligning wire, a clamping plate underlying said nut and having an aperture to engage the post and adapted to pinch the wire against said member, and the clamping plate having a slot for maintainin a straight position of the Wire upon tightening of the thumb nut, the wire extending under tension between the posts to provide a reference line for positioning and aligning a printin plate.

4. A device for alignin printing plates adapted to be detachably mounted on a base having a plurality of apertures for receiving the mounting means comprisin in combination a plurality of pairs of elements each having a plug portion snugly engageable with individual apertures in the base, a peripherally disposed flanged portion to limit the degree of entry of said plug portion into the base, and a threaded portion, a thumb nut engageable with the threaded portion, a pair of members each having an elongated slot engageable over the threaded portion of a pair of elements and adjustably securable thereto by said thumb nut, a post secured to each member, a wire, and means co-operative with the posts and Wire for maintaining said wire in tensioned condition intermediate said posts, whereby said wire provides a reference line for positioning and aligning a selected edge of a printing plate.

ALBERT J. HOERTH.

REFERENCES CITED lire following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

